Major insurance provider Cigna says it will no longer cover Oxycontin for customers in an effort to reduce opioid abuse in the U.S.

The Connecticut-based company says the changes will be made starting on Jan. 1, 2018 for its group commercial drug list.

Advertisement

Cigna says it is currently in the process of notifying customers who have Oxycontin prescriptions, so they will have time to discuss alternative treatment options with their doctors.

“Our focus is on helping customers get the most value from their medications – this means obtaining effective pain relief while also guarding against opioid misuse," Cigna's chief pharmacy officer Jon Maesner said. "We continually evaluate the clinical effectiveness, affordability and safety of all our covered medications as these characteristics can change over time, and we make adjustments that we believe will provide better overall value for those we serve."

Those in hospice care or who are using Oxycontin for cancer treatments will continue to have the medication covered by their insurance in 2018. Cigna says the company will consider approving coverage for the opioid if a customer's doctor determines that Oxycontin is "medically necessary."